Nail distributor



F. J. BALCOM NAIL DISTRIBUTOR Filed sept. z, 1921 y H I NIM IV PatentedOct. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK .T. BALCONE, OF BlNGI-IAMTON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNITEDSHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW' JERSEY, A CORPORATION OFNEW JERSEY.

NAIL DISTRIBUTOR.

Application filed September 2, 1921. Serial No. 498,074.

furnished by a rotatable roll, is mounted between the nail-deliveringways and a stopbar, and oscillated between one eXtreme position, inwhich the nails are received 1n depressions inthe roll which are alinedwith the nail-ways and stop, and the oppo-v site eXtreme position, inwhich the nails are discharged from the roll-depressions into conduitswhich supply loading mechai5 nism. In this discharge mechanism thestop-bar is adjustable toward and trom the roll, so that nails otdifferent lengths may be operated upon successfully, the location of thebar always being such that the nails f) stopped upon the roll prior todelivery will hold the succeeding nails clear oi' said roll in itsdischarging movement. l/Vhen, howover, the length of the nails fallsbelow a certain minimum for a roll of. a particular diameter, theadjustment which would stop them with their inner extremities at thedesired position is prevented by the bar coming in contact with theperiphery of the roll. Rolls ot' small diameter, to give a wider rangeof stop-bar adjustment, cannot be used with long nails, since theyafford for these an unstable support from which the vibration ot theapparatus displaces them. It is therefore customary to provide aplurality ot interchangeable rolls ot' different diameters, each otwhich will act properlythrough a certain limited range oi naillengths.The present invention has as an object the simplification ot thismultipleroll equipment by the provision of a discharge mechanism, whichby adjustment only, without substitution ot elements, will actsuccessfully with all lengths et nails. To this end, a movable dischargedevice, as a rotatable roll., has combined with it :i mov-a Vable stopmember, which may be a reciprocatory bar, extending into the path oitsaid discharge device and of the nails. delivered thereby. lVhen thusrelated, the stop member may be carried inwardly toward the nail-ways inits adjustment, so that it will maintain even the shortest nails in thecorrect relation upon the roll to those tollowing in the nail-ways. Topermit the movement of the discharge device when the stop member isrelated to it as just set forth, the latter is preferably yieldable andthe discharge device has provision for automatically moving the memberout of its path in advance of the nails delivered. This movement I haveshown as accomplished by a cam-surface, which may be formed upon thedischarge-roll. In addition to this automatic movement ot' the stopmember, there is provided means arranged to adjust the stop member withrelation to the discharge device to position it for the particularlength of nails to be delivered.

Of the many forms which my invention may assume, but one is illustratedin the accompanying drawing,

Fig. l being a side elevation ot the t'or- Ward portion of anail-distributing apparatus to which my improved discharge mechanism isapplied; i

Fig. 2, a broken top plan view ot the same portion of the apparatus;

Fig. 3, a similar view, enlarged, showing one side of the apparatusonly;

Fig. 4, an enlarged vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2,illustrating particularly the relation of the elements for co-operationwith the shortest nails; while y Figs. 5 and 6 are like views, oneshowing the discharging position, and the other the adjustmentk of theparts tor co-operation with longer nails than appear in Fig. 4.

The general nail-distributing organization may be similar to thatdisclosed in Patent No. 1,005,303, Pope, Oct. 10, 1911. This includes anail-conveyor 10 arranged to reciprocate in a frame 12 and provided withinclined grooves or nail-ways 14 carrying the nails from a drum orcontainer (not illustrated) in series in each of the ways, as appears atN in Fig. 4, to the discharge mechanism D. The discharge member properappears as a roll 16, journaled horizontally for rotation upon theforward end of the conveyor-frame. The roll 16 is os- `d-le toalternately release the nails to permit their travel down the nail-Waysto the discharge mechanism and checl; this advance Whilesaid dischargemechanism is operating, These fingers have no peculiar relation to thepresent invention.

Extending longitudinally of the axis of vthe discharge-roll and openingthrough its periphery is a recess 2li, Which approximately has the formwhich would be produced by removing from the roll a sector of 90degrees. In the normal or nail-receivingl position of the roll (Figs. lanc G), a Wall 26 of the recess lies horizontally, while the other Wall28 extends vertically. Opening through the Wall 28 and through theopposite side ofthe roll isa series of transverse perforations 30,corresponding in number to thenailvays, being alined with them andhaving the same inclination when the discharge-roll occupies thenail-receiving Aposition. In the opposite extreme position, illustratedin Fig. 5, the perforations 30 are so inclined that they discharge thecontained nails by gravity into conduits 3l leading to the loadingmechanism of the machine, as a heeler, which .is to be supplied.Entering the roll-recess 2t, so that it lies in the path of movement ofsaid roll in its oscillation, is a stop member, shown in the formof abar This bar preferably is parallel to the normally horizontal wall 26of the recess, and has a vertical stop-surface 8l parallel to therecess-wall 2S and extending across the for-ward ends of theperforations 30. The bar is mounted to reciprocate in a horizontal Way36 in a plate 38 mounted for adjustment toivardand from theAdischarge-roll upon the forward portion of the conveyor-frame. Thismovement may be effected by a shaft 40 arranged to be turned by ahand-Wheel e2 and having fast upon it pinions et, 44 meshing ivithseries of rack-teeth 46, 46 upon the upper face of the plate. Thestop-bar is pressed yieldahly toward the discharge-roll along lines atall times intersecting it by springs 48, tivo of which may be employed,these springs being contained in bores in extensions 50 from the outeredges `of the plate. 'The forward extremities of the Abores are threadedto receive screw-plugs 52, 'against which the inner ends of the springsabut. By turning these plugs toward or from the stop-bar, the force ifi/ith Which the springs resist its movement may vbe varied. The inivardtravel of the bar under the expansive force of the springs may belimited by pins 54e extending across the Way 36 and held by the upperand lower `walls ofthe plate 38. These pins pass through slots 5b in thestopbar, the elongation of the openings permitting the desired yield ofthe bar. Formed upon the roll 16, as an extension of the recess-Wall 28and above the perforations 80, is a cam-surface 58 arranged to contact,in the oscillation of the roll, with the stop-surface 3st of the bar orwith an upivard extension therefrom.

In using this discharge device, the stopbar 32 is adjusted by moving itssupporting plate 38, until the Wall .3f-t is in such a position thatcontact of the forward ends of the nails, as they lie in the receivingdepressions 30, will bring the opposite extremities just outside theperiphery of fthe roll to hold the succeeding nails spaced from saidroll. This is as illustrated in Fig..l, for the shortest nail Which themechanism is adapted .to operate upon, and as in 6, for a longer nail.Even when the stop-bar is adjusted for the longest nails, with thesurface Se farthest from the perforations 30, there willv be no dangerof displacement of the nails by the ari-ing of the apparatus, since theyare held positively against the upward movement Which would dislodgethem, by the closed perforation-Walls As the roll 1G oscillates in thedirection of the arroivs in Figs. 4 and 5 ofthe drawing to discharge thenails, the cam-surface 5S, operating against the stop-surface C54-,forces the bar forward, the springs i8 yielding. Thus ,the rollimovesthe bar outof its path, as is Yparticularly shownin Fig. leavingsaidroll free to oscillate. This at once carries the stop-surface of thebar away from the delivery-ends of the .perforations, and the nailscontained in ,the pcrforations fall, without anything to interfere withtheir dischar-ge,.over .the recess-surface 2G into the conduits As.reverse movement of the roll occurs, the springs 48 ycause the bar tofollow the 'surfaces 58 and 28 `bach to the normalreceiving position,whereupon .the nail-receiving and discharging operation is repeated.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to securebyvLettei-s Patent of the United States is:

l. In a nail-distributor, a rmovable discharge device arranged rto holdtemporarily the nails `to be delivered, and a movable stop memberextending into the paths of movementof said device and rof the nailstherein.

2. In a nail-distrilmtor, a ,movable discharge device, a `movable stopmember extending into the path of moven'ient of said device, and aspring arranged to force the stop member' toward the discharge devicealong lines intersecting the discharge device throughout the movement ofsaid device.

3. In a nail-distributor, a rotatable discharge device, and a yieldablestop member having its nail-engaging surface eX- tending into the pathof rotation ot said device.

il. In a nail-distributor, a rotatable discharge device, a yieldablestop member ex,- tending into the path oit rotation of said device, andmeans arranged to adjust the stop member with relation to the dischargedevice.

3. In a nailedistributor, a movable discharge device, and a movable stopmember extending into the path of movement ot said device, there beingprovision tor automatically moving the member out of said path inadvance of nails delivered by the discharge device into engagen'ientWith said member.

j 6. In a nail-distributor, a movable discharge device, a movable stopmember extending into t-he path ot movement of said device, there beingprovision for automatically moving the member out of said path, andmeans arranged to adjust the stop member with relation to the dischargedevice.

T. In a nail-distributor, a rotatable discharge device, and a yieldablestop member extending into the path of rotation oft said device and otthe nails discharged there-J from, there being a surta-ce movable intocontact with the stop member for moving it trom the discharge device.

8. In a nail-distributor, a rotatable discharge device having anail-receiving pertoration, a yieldable stop member normallyco-operating With one extremity of the per- ;t'oration and arranged 'foractuation by the device in its discharging movement, and means arrangedto adjust the stop member toward and trom the perforation.

9. In a nail-distrilnitor, a discharge-roll having a recess openingthrough its periphcry, and a nail-stop extending into the recess throughthe peripheral opening.

l0. In a nail-distributor, a peripheral dischargea'oll having a recessand an opening through the roll 'from another portion of the peripheryinto the recess, and a nailstop entering the recess to normallycooperate with the end of the opening.

ll. In a nail-distrilnitor, a discharge-roll having a. peripheral recessand an opening through the roll into the recess, a nail-stop movableinto the recess, and a spring normally holding the stop in the path otthe nails delivered thro-ugh the opening.

12. In a nail-distributor, a movable discharge-roll having a recess andan opening through the roll into the recess, a nail-stop supportedindependently of the roll and movable into the recess, and a springnormally holding the stop in co-operation With the opening.

I3. In a nail-distributor, a rotatable discharge-rol carrying acam-surface, and a stop for the nails discharged vby the roll, said stopbeing movable by said surface.

Il. In a nail-distributor, a rotatable discharge-roll having a series ofnail-receiving openings and a cam-surface formed thereon and extendingalong the series of openings, and a movable nail-stop contacting Withsaid surface.

lo. In a nail-distributor, a rotatable discharge-roll.. a movable plateadjacent thereto, a stop-bar mounted to reciprocate upon the plate incontact With the roll, and a spring' interposed betiveen the plate andbar and acting to torce said bar toward the roll.

I6. In a mil-distributor, va rotatable dischargeroll, a movable plateadjacent thereto, a stop-bar mounted to reciprocate upon the plate incontact with the roll, a spring interposed between the plate and bar andacting to torce said bar toward the roll, and means arranged to vary theforce with which the bar presses against the rol-l.

l?. In a. nail-distributor, an oscillatory discharge-roll, and a movablestop-bar coperating with the. nails discharged by the roll, the roll inits oscillation co-operating with the bar to eli'ect its movement.

I8. In a nail-distributor, an oscillatory discharge-roll having alongitudinal recess, a transverse opening through the roll into the recand a cani-surface adjacent to \ss, and a vieldable stop-bar extendinglinto the recess for co-operation with the opening and contacting Withthe cam-surface to be moved thereby in the oscillation ot the roll.

'19. In a. i1ail-distributer, au oscillatory discharge-roll having alongitudinal recess, a transverse opening through the roll iii-to therecess and a cam-surface adjacent to said recess, a plate adjustablymounted adjacent to the roll, and a stop-bar yieldable upon the plate,said bar extending into the recess for co-operation with the opening andcontacting with the -cainsurtace to be moved thereby in the oscillationof the roll.

20. In a nail-distrilmtor, a movable discharge device, and a movablestop member 'tor nails discharged by the device supported independentlyof said device and aia'iinged for movement by contact therewith.

2l. In a nail-distributor, a. movable discharge device, a movable stopmember supported independently of said device and arranged tor movementby contact therewith, and means arranged to vary the relation ot thestop member to the discharge device.

In testimony ivhereoil I have signed my name to this specification.

FREDERICK J. BALCM.

